Wire-rope protector.



PATENTED FEB.13,190& H. DOWNS L W. O. WALLY. WRE ROPE PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1905.

llll* WITNf-:ssas:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH DOWNS, OF PITTSBURG, AND WILLIAM C. WALLY, OF ETNA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WIRE-'ROPE PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1906.

Application filed June Z7, 1905. Serial No; 267,186.

United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Rope Proteetors 5 and we do declare the following to be a i'ull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable .others skilled in the art to which it appertains. to make and use the same, reference being had to the accom-panying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates to a new, novel, and useful improvement in a device to be attached to a wire cable used in oil, gas, and water well-drilling for the purpose of protecting said cable against wearing by whipping against the sides of the Vtubing or hole during the process of drilling.

This device may bevtermed a guard or protector, as it serves to preserve the wire cable durin the process of drillin and thus materially Tessens the chances o the cable being broken in two and the drilling-tools being dropped into the hole, thus necessitating any expensive fishing operation.

IOur device has for its object, along with that described above, the combination and arrangement of parts whereby it can be produced at a minimum cost and when in operation can be quickly and readily adjusted on and oii the cable.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, we have shown several views of our invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation as attached to a section of cable. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side and edge view of' the wedge-slip used in connection with our device.

Throughout the several views the numeral 1 designates the body portion of our device. This portion is made of any hard metallic substance and in actual use will be about eighteen inches in length by about four and one-half inches in diameter, or it may vary according to the size of casing used. Runninfr the full len th of this body portion is a double-tapered s ot 2, being slightly wider at the top than bottom. The rear wall of this slot is corrugated'to conform to the twist of the cable and affords a seat for the same. Adapted to slip into the slot 2 through the top of the member 1 is a double-tapered wedge 3, constructed to conform to the taper 1, so that when firmly Iseated in said slot the outer edge of this wedge will be flush with the face of themember 1. Formed in the inner edge of this wed e is a groove 4, running the entire length of t e same, which affords a seat for the cable when in position. Also formed integral with the wedge at the top Iis a projection 5, having an eye formed therein, which affords av means of lifting the wedge out of its seat. A plurality of' notches 6 are lalso formed in the outer edge of this wedge 4as a means of starting the same out of its seat or of more firmly driving it down on the ta- Pel'# v Formed through the side of the member l is a tapered slot 7 to receive the correspondingly-tapered key 8. This key also passes throu h a slot 9, formed through the wed e 3, an constitutes a means of securely loci ing the wedge in its seat. Sufiicient play is will force the same downward into its seat.

The operation for putting on and removin our device consists simply in laying the ca le in the slot 2, driving the wedge 3 into its seat, and then inserting the locking-key 8. In this position it will be next to impossible for the protector to jar loose from the cable and by so doing drop into the hole on top of the drilling-tools. To release the device, simply knock out the key 3 and lift the wedge out of its seat. When in position on the cable during the drilling process, our device will serve to center the cable in the casing and prevent lthe rope from whipping the sides of the hole at every downward stroke. The number of our devices necessary to protect the wire cable will depend on the depth ofthe hole; but in ordinary cases two or three will be ample.

Having thus Jfully shown and described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letter Patent, is-

l. In a wire-rope protector of the character described, a body portion havin@ a double-tapered slot extending the full length thereoil and adapted to fit over the cable; a

of the slot and thethick'ness ofthe memberallowed through the slot 9 in order that when the key 8 is driven through the wedge 3 it IOO double-tapered Wedge to conform to the tapered slot adapted to fit in the latter, and means for locking said Wed ein its seat; as, and for, the purpose set fortIi.

2. In a Wlre-rope protector of the charac? ter described, a body portion havinO' a double-ta ered slot extending the fulI length thereo and adapted to fit over the cable; a double-tapered removable Wedge to conform to the tapered slot adapted to t in the latter; and a tapered locking-key to fitin an opening formed through the side of the body portion and through said Wedge as, and for, the purpose set forth.

3. In a Wire-rope protector of the character described, av body portion having a double-'tapered slot extending the full length thereof, and adapted to iit over the cable; a double-tapered removable Wedge to conform to the tapered slot, adapted to fit in the latter; a tapered lockin -key to fit in an opening formed through t e side of the body portion and through said Wedge and means Whereby the Wedge may be removed; as, and for, the purpose set forth.

4. In a Wire-rope protector of the character described, a body portion havin a double-tapered slot extending the ful length thereof, and adapted to iit over the cable; corrugations formed in the rear Wall of said slot a double-tapered removable Wedge to conform to the tapered slot, ada ted to fit inthe latter; a groove formed in tv e inner edge of said 6. In a device of the character described, a

body portion havin a groove to receive a cable, and a liller for t e groove binding against the cable and means extending transversely of the body for holding the filler against displacement.

7. In a device of the character described, a body having a Wedge-slot, adapted to receive a cable and a Wedge fitting Within said slot and bearing against said slot and said Wedge havinlg notches on its outer surface.

8. n a device of the character described, a body having a Wedge-slot adapted to receive a cable, and a Wedge fittin Within said slot and bearing against the cab e, and an eye carried by the Wedge.

In testimony whereof We aflix our signatures in presence of tWo Witnesses.

HU GH DOWNS. WILLIAM C. WALLY.

Witnesses:

J. M. CoRBoY, W. J. POWER. 

